what systems are you using?

[tsingh]

Hi All,

I am posting to find out what kind of systems people are using within their business to help with their daily tasks?

Just trying to find out what is out there!

This is an open question which will allow me to get a good feel of what is out.

I am looking to find out what is popular and what would make businesses life easier.

An example if you use Kashflow there could be an integration made between your system and kashflow!

Look forward to the replies

Cheers

Tej

 

[davidshaw89]

I use Microsoft office accounting 2008 and Outlook for emails/time management.

And my website admin panel delivers all the statistics, support messages, orders etc etc where I can view and respond all in one place.

I don't know if thats what you were meaning?

 

[tsingh]

Hi,

Yup thats it!

Also could you post the line of business that would be great as i can categorise them

keep posting guys!

cheers

Tej

 

[davidshaw89]

oh sorry, I'm design services for small businesses, which occasionally requires printing (although just small-scale printing).

If you want to see what MS office accounting is like you can download a free version with limited capabilities.

For anyone who can, if you design your own web-based system for organisation, it will be a fantastic resource for your business! and will be suitable as the business grows. (Especially useful if you take online orders, have a support system etc etc)

 

[tsingh]

cheers for the reply

Carry on posting guys! only take a few mins!

cheers

tej

 

[MikeBzr]

Currently just going my accounting in an excel workbook I put together, after realising the big packages like Quickbooks and Sage were just far too bloated for my needs.

In terms of organisation, I use a fantastic CRM web app called 'Highrise', as well as Google Apps, Outlook and good old pen and paper

 

[tsingh]

sounds good

You mention that you use excel spreadsheet for accounting have you had a look at kashflow - basic accounting

regards

tej

 

[Duggsy]

I am trialling MS Business Contact Manager as a CRM tool - Links with Outlook/Tasks/reports etc: Bit of a pain if using VPN to a main server though!
I tend to rely on tasks in outlook and the good old fashioned diary as it never crashes, disappears from view or runs slow.

Duggsy

 

[Silk]

We are just moving over to Sage 50 Financial Controller with Tradebox to manage Web Sales and invoicing/stock control. Currently we are using our Web Site for creating online invoices plus Invoice2Go for telephone orders.

We use Royal Mail Online Business Account with PPI for most of our postage & packing.

Payroll Manager for PAYE (much cheaper than Sage's offering).

Looking at purchasing the latest version of Act as we have Act 6 but the newer version better integrates with Sage 50.

 

[TONY LEE]

It seem Microsoft is not popular here, is it? Cause some of my clients here say that, they would like to buy and have it installed if I keep on sending them offer sheets that way.

 

[TONY LEE]

BTW, how do you think about the files in PDF form?
Is it popular here?

 

[jim_gold]

We use a fantastic database that integrates most of our office functions - called FileMaker Pro. Even integrates into our MySQL online databases. We are looking at linking it into a new online accounting system called Xero.com, that is opening up its API in a few weeks.

 

[FAB Enterprises]

Tony, Microsoft is popular in my organisation. Microsoft Small Business Server controlling the office (Exchange, SQL Server, ISA Server, Sharepoint). MS Office & Vista on the desktops. IIS & ASP.NET for the webserver & dynamic websites. Quickbooks for the accounts and as a Micro-ISV (Independant Software Vendor), we've written our own back-end order processing, e-commerce and fulfillment system, along with a number of other tools & utilities we need.

Mason

 

[tsingh]

Hi guys

thanks for your replies

keep them coming!

regards

tej

 

[AdamJ]

Good old Excel for all the accounting stuff (we don't have stock as such and mainly just sell our time so the other systems seemed too bloated for us).

Word for reports, invoicing and quoting. Again, we don't have a huge number of invoices - it tends to be a smaller number of larger invoices than a large number of smaller ones, (if I've written that correctly) so its not a big job to manage them.

PAYE - is me + online banking and the HMRC employer's CD thingy - there're only 4 of us so it doesn't take any time. The CD does the payslips, P60s, etc. and I make the 4 payments online.

Outlook for scheduling and contacts, synced with Google calendar and mail for checking when away.

And a host of software for various tools such as audiometers, noise meters, etc.

As for industry - we're generally a business to business service provider I guess. We mainly do audiometry (hearing tests), noise assessments and training although there is some risk assessment, fire risk assessment, etc. as well.

 

[tsingh]

Hi

Anymore info would be great from other people.

cheers

tej

 

[simonswords]

We use Microsoft Exchange server with Outlook to manage communication, time (calendars), and non-project specific to-do lists.

We use Microsoft Dynamics and Team Foundation Suite for the managemnt of our projects, source code, contacts etc.

Hope that helps

 

[C.J.Couriers Professional]

I didn't start to trade yet, so I'm not so much into accountant software, but I started to test a courier software. Offer from Net Despatch looks very good, modern and flexible solution for courier companies and they are extremely helpful when you want to adjust their system to suit your company individual needs and trading profile. I was also checking Satcom Technologies, they look professional as well, but they more about tracking vehicles and navigation systems. I'm thinking about taking the both system together and making ultimate courier managing system

 

[davidshaw89]

courier software? I didn't know such a thing existed. is that just things like van and parcel tracking/management?

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

Sage IP for wages, PAYE, NI etc. never any problems, currently costs £125 pa.
My own Excel Spreadsheets for accounting, VAT, etc. (Would probably have used KashFlow had I known about it at the time, but I've got used to these now).
On-line Royal Mail PPI for carriage.
HSBC on line banking, Capital One on line CC management.
Word for general documents, letters etc.
Publisher for adverts, leaflets, etc.
Google as a search engine for finding info., and all kinds of other useful tools (such as maps, pictures, etc.).
Barrie

 

[flatpackuniverse]

I provide IT support and on a daily basis I use Open Office, Thunderbird, Firefox and PHP Designer.

 

[deniser]

Retail shop and online shop:

Word
Outlook Express
Paintshop
Streamline terminal
Online banking
Inland Revenue Cd for PAYE
Accounts done manually (sad I know)
Custom built database and order handling facility for website orders
The man from the PO comes to collect our post for free, deals with it every afternoon and invoices us once a week
Sharp basic till

 

[Faith28]

Publishing card games

I use

MS Outlook
Mozy for back up
Kashflow for invoicing
Basecamp for projects
Accountants do book keeping, VAT returns, PAYE, tax return etc
MS word and excel for proposals then convert to pdf files
Adobe Creative Suite 2 for card game designs
CUTE FTP file transfer to printers
Abbey online banking
Royal Mail PPI stamps for mailing campaigns
Website orders managed online
Wordpress for another website (still not being utilised fully)

 

[C.J.Couriers Professional]

courier software? I didn't know such a thing existed. is that just things like van and parcel tracking/management?

It does It's the software that lets you to do all sort of things like:
-track parcels
-track couriers
-manages customer database
-helps to keep control over the costs, like fuel etc.
-helps you to find a nearest courier to a 'urgent job'
-helps you to quote your clients
-helps you to count distance between two postcodes
-when used with hand held bar code scanning device, it can automatically send a proof of delivery with attached digital signature straight to your client

When you use the system provided by Satcom (PC software + sat nav) you will be able also to:
-track couriers
-send jobs straight to couriers sat-nav (re-route courier)
-type number of jobs into the program and let it to put them in logical order
-prioritise jobs
-send up to 200 messages into couriers sat-nav as text messages (courier can reply), so cut costs of phone calls

Depends what sort of courier activity you are involved in, you can add all sort of options, like for example connect it with warehouse stock management system. Well, you can also control activity of your vans: are the doors open or closed, is the engine running, what is temperature inside van (refrigerated vans) and many other

 

[Steve2507]

We've got a long list of software.

Offline:
Word for the usual stuff
Excel - various calculations and spreadsheets, but do most of the sales analysis in Access.
Access - stock control
Dreamweaver - web page design
Paint Shop Pro - basic image resizing and manipulation
Photoshop - advanced image manipulation
Cuteftp - file upload
Fireworks - image creation
Indesign - creating printed material
Quickbooks - accounts, but will be going over to Microsoft Accounting at year end (August)
Sage Instant Payroll - the obvious

Online:
VPASP - runs the site
Interspire Trackpoint - visitor tracking etc
Interpsire SendstudioNX - newsletter management

As to what we do, look at the link in my signature and have a guess.